Duncan Smith
Question:156. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Taoiseach the amount of coal imported into the State for domestic use over the past four years; and the amount per year in tabular form. [15411/23]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (156)
Written answers
The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Table A : Imports of coal 2019 - 2022.
|
Imports |
2019 |
2019 |
2020 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Product |
Value |
Tonnes |
Value |
Tonnes |
Value |
|
Coal, coke & briquettes |
69,203 |
453,084 |
67,431 |
475,322 |
212,997 |
|
Imports |
2021 |
2022 |
2022 |
Total |
Total |
|
Product |
Tonnes |
Value |
Tonnes |
Value |
Tonnes |
|
Coal, coke & briquettes |
1,584,115 |
388,022 |
1,357,948 |
737,653 |
3,870,469 |
The data provided covers total imports and a breakdown into use for domestic or other purposes is not available.
Social Media
Questions (157)
Catherine Murphy
Question:157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14589/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is not the practice to comment on the technical measures that are put in place to protect official devices and communications.
The NCSC does issues guidance to Government Departments and office holders on the security of mobile devices. This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC.
The Department of the Taoiseach expects all users of official communications devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use, and in using relevant communications services in line with acceptable usage policies and guidance.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (158)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:158. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all procurement competitions, if any, in which companies (details supplied) won contracts from his Department since 2016. [14732/23]
View answerWritten answers
None of the companies in question have won contracts with the Department of the Taoiseach.
Official Travel
Questions (159)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:159. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total costs of accommodation and travel expenses associated with his recent foreign trip, or foreign trips by Ministers for State at his Department, for St Patrick’s Day; and if a breakdown can be provided on travel costs, accommodation costs, country/state visited, number of departmental staff accompanying him, and the duration of the trip, in tabular form. [14750/23]
View answerWritten answers
St. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to engage with the global Irish community and to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas. My visit to Washington DC this year, from 14-19 March, also provided an opportunity to recognise the steadfast and invaluable support and engagement of the United States in the peace process over the decades, particularly this year as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. I undertook a programme encompassing high-level political engagements, including with President Biden, Vice-President Harris, Speaker McCarthy and with members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, as well as participating in economic, diaspora and cultural events, and events highlighting academic exchange programmes between the United States and Ireland. I was accompanied by a delegation of 9 people with a total cost of €15,391.98 for flights.
The Government Chief Whip, Minister Naughton, travelled on the 10 March for a 6 day programme, accompanied by one member of staff from this Department, to Miami, and Monterrary and Mexico City in Mexico. Flight costs of €5,947.95 have been incurred for the Minister and one member of staff. Travel arrangements for another member of staff from the Department of Health, who also accompanied the Minister of State were organised and paid for by the Department of Health.
The Minister of State for European Affairs, travelled on the 15 March to Italy for a 3 day programme, accompanied by one member of staff from this Department and a member of staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs. €469.08 expenditure has been incurred by this Department for flights for one member of the Minister's staff. The remaining travel arrangements for the Minister of State for European Affairs and accompanying staff member were organised and paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
No invoices pertaining to accommodation on these trips have been received from suppliers yet. Any future payments will be included in the Foreign Travel Report, published by the Department of the Taoiseach on its website on a monthly basis, which details the costs relating to the foreign travel undertaken by the Taoiseach, and Ministers of State attached to the Department, which was paid by the Department in the previous month. All necessary expenditure on official travel are in line with the Department's Travel Policy which is based on guidelines laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform. The Department seeks at all times to ensure best value for money is sought in respect of each official trip undertaken, consistent with the requirements of official business.
Personal Injuries Assessment Board
Questions (160)
Peter Burke
Question:160. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what mechanism is in place in the Personal Injuries Assessment Board to inform applicants of progress on their case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15368/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delivers major benefits by providing a low-cost, quick and fair option in injury compensation. It annually saves tens of millions of euro which would otherwise be paid in costs by parties, and ultimately be a cost borne by policyholders.
PIAB has a number of mechanisms in place to keep applicants and/or their representatives informed in relation to the progress of their claim:
- A claimant or their representative can contact PIAB’s customer service centre (0818 829 121) for information in relation to the status of their claim.
- Responsive to the needs of customers PIAB is investing in a digital platform which will enable all claimants to have instant access to the progress of their claim. PIAB has already developed an on-line solicitor portal for processing claims - the status of a person’s claim is available through this portal to claimant representatives.
- In addition, PIAB writes to claimants, or their solicitors if represented, at every milestone in relation to their claim, if any information is required in relation to their claim, or if any particular action is required by them.
- Finally, PIAB’s website www.piab.ie contains general information about the claims process and how a typical claim progresses.
On 13 December 2022 the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022 was signed into law by the President and I commenced the first phase of the Act the 13 February 2023.
Enactment and commencement of this legislation has been a priority for me since my appointment as Minister. This Act will transform PIAB into an enhanced personal injuries resolution board. Under the Act PIAB are being given a new function to allow them offer mediation as a means of resolving a claim and I am working with the agency to commence this and other provisions as quickly as possible in the coming months.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (161)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:161. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details of all procurement competitions, if any, in which companies (details supplied) won contracts from his Department since 2016. [14721/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not entered into any contracts with the companies specified from 2016 to date.
Official Travel
Questions (162)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:162. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total costs of accommodation and travel expenses, associated with his recent foreign trip, or foreign trips by Ministers for State at his Department, for St Patrick’s Day; and if a breakdown can be provided on travel costs, accommodation costs, country/state visited, number of departmental staff accompanying him, and the duration of the trip, in tabular form. [14739/23]
View answerWritten answers
This year’s St Patrick’s Day 2023 programme saw the widest yet engagement by Ireland with Ministers reaching out to partner governments and Irish communities on every continent. In all, 36 representatives of the State brought Ireland’s message to 74 cities in 44 countries.
St Patrick’s Day offers an unmatched opportunity to promote Ireland abroad. It is an important part of the government’s ‘Global Ireland’ strategy which seeks to promote Ireland as an outstanding location to live, visit, work, invest in, trade with and study.
This year, St Patrick’s Day marked ‘100 Years of Ireland in the World’, a century of our country’s engagement as an active member of the international community in the promotion of democracy, peace and security. Ministers acknowledged a number of important milestones which occurred this year: The centenary of Ireland’s joining the League of Nations, the fiftieth anniversary of our accession to the then EEC, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
In my own case I travelled to Australia as part of a St Patrick’s Day Trade Mission led by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, where I carried out a series of engagements in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. Australia is the second largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients in AsiaPac, growing by 28% in 2021. The trade mission was focused on promoting Irish innovation and collaboration between Irish companies and companies in Australia. The duration of the mission was for 10 days. I was accompanied by my special advisor and two members of staff of my Department, including the Secretary General.
My colleague, Minister Calleary travelled to France where he carried out a series of engagements in Paris, Strasbourg and Lyon. The duration of Minister Calleary's trip was 7 days and he was accompanied by 1 member of staff of the Department
Minister Richmond travelled to Spain and Portugal where he attended events in both Madrid and Lisbon. The trip lasted for 4 days and the Minister was accompanied by 1 member of staff
The costs incurred in respect of these trips relate to flights (including internal flights within Australia), , accommodation and other transport costs for myself, Ministers Calleary and Richmond and the aforementioned staff. The costs incurred so far are set out in the following table:
|
Minister |
Trip |
Flights |
Accommodation |
Other Transport* |
Total |
|
Minister Coveney plus Secretary General, Private Secretary, Special Advisor |
Australia 12 -22 March |
€39,507.03 |
€39,507.03 |
||
|
Minister Calleary plus Private Secretary |
France 12 – 19 March |
€1,045.86 |
€262 |
€1,307.86 |
|
|
Minister Richmond plus Private Secretary |
Spain and Portugal13- 17 March |
€946.76 |
€946.76 |
*relates to the cost of Train tickets .
Final costs in relation to the Saint Patrick's Day events have not been finally determined as a number of invoices, particularly in relation to accommodation costs, have yet to be received.
Redundancy Payments
Questions (163)
Michael McNamara
Question:163. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in light of the UK government's decision to increase the maximum amount of weekly pay for the purpose of calculating a redundancy payment from £594 to £699, with effect from 6 April 2023, he intends to increase the maximum amount of €600 which was set back in 2004. [14785/23]
View answerWritten answers
By law, it is the employer's responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible employees. Statutory redundancy in Ireland is based on the employee’s length of reckonable service and their weekly remuneration. Eligible employees are entitled to 2 weeks' pay per year of reckonable service, plus one bonus week, capped at €600 per week.
By contrast with the situation in the UK, there are no age-related conditions and there is no limit on the number of years service taken into account when calculating an employee’s redundancy entitlement in Ireland. Notwithstanding the increase in the cap on weekly remuneration in the UK, the redundancy regime in Ireland remains substantially more beneficial to employees and it is therefore not directly comparable.
Over the past year the Government has introduced or progressed several measures with the aim of improving working conditions in Ireland. These measures are an important part of building an inclusive economy – particularly one that is attractive to highly mobile labour and skills. These measures are necessary to improve the lives of workers in Ireland and to ensure Ireland is in line with other European countries.
It is important to also be aware of the impact of these measures on employers, particularly in the context of the existing financial pressures on businesses. Any consideration of an increase to the €600 limit would have to be carefully balanced with the overall economic climate and running costs for businesses.
Significant consultation with a number of Government Departments, the social partners and other relevant stakeholders would also be required.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (164, 165)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:164. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses that have applied for assistance under stream 1 of the Ukraine enterprise crisis scheme to date, by county; the number of applications that have been successful, by county; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14904/23]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:165. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses that have applied for assistance under stream 2 of the Ukraine enterprise crisis scheme to date, by county; the number of applications that have been successful, by county; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14905/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
Enterprise Ireland has received 19 completed applications under Stream 1 of the Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme (UECS). A total of 14 approvals, totalling €3,892,208, across 11 counties have been made to date by Enterprise Ireland. A breakdown of applications and approvals by Region is detailed in the table below. Due to the number of approvals, for commercial sensitivity reasons, Enterprise Ireland has not indicated the numbers of approvals as yet on a County basis level.
|
UECS Stream 1 |
|||
|
Region |
Number of Applications |
Number of Approvals |
Total Approval (€) |
|
North-West |
<5 |
<5 |
829,330 |
|
North- East |
<5 |
<5 |
647,000 |
|
Midlands |
<5 |
<5 |
1,000,000 |
|
West |
<5 |
<5 |
500,000 |
|
Dublin Mid-East |
5 |
<5 |
759,878 |
|
South & South-East |
<5 |
<5 |
156,000 |
|
Mid-West |
<5 |
<5 |
0 |
|
Total |
19 |
14 |
€3.892,208 |
A total of 3 approvals have been made under Stream 2 of the Scheme totalling €173,274 spread over 3 counties. Due to the number of approvals, for commercial sensitivity reasons, Enterprise Ireland has not indicated the numbers of approvals as yet on a named county basis.
On 20th March 2023, the UECS was extended to 31 December 2023 in the case of Stream 1 and to 31 March 2024 in the case of Stream 2 of the Scheme. The Scheme continues to be open to assist both Agency and non-Agency manufacturers, exporters and internationally traded services companies.
Question No. 165 answered with Question No. 164.
Oireachtas Committees
Questions (166)
Paul Murphy
Question:166. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to correct the statement he made to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, on 8 February 2022 (details supplied). [14943/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, like many public representatives I receive text messages and phone calls from phone numbers I do not know, this is often people reaching out to ask for assistance or simply make contact. On December 29th 2021 I was informed that a twitter account was publishing screen grabs of unsolicited text messages being sent to my phone along with commentary on the social media platform. My office and I considered the behaviour quite strange. The posts have since been deleted from social media. I do not know the person or persons behind the twitter account or behind the Irish mobile phone number, I have never contacted them, spoken to them, met them or engaged with them. They and their one-way contact has nothing to do with government or department business. As your question refers to the information commissioner it is important to note that on March 3rd this year the information commissioner found in favour of the Department of Foreign Affairs in an FOI case taken by a party identified as Mr X.
To confirm, I don’t delete any records which relate to Government business.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (167)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of funding current and capital allocated to the regional enterprise development programmes in Budget 2023, including the regional enterprise development fund, Border enterprise development fund, the regional enterprise transition scheme, the regional enterprise innovation scheme and the regional enterprise plans projects; if a breakdown could be provided for each scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15021/23]
View answerWritten answers
Through ongoing funding provided by my Department, Enterprise Ireland has continued to operate competitive schemes to support all regions to build enterprise capability and capacity. In Budget 2023 additional funding of €12 million was provided to Enterprise Ireland to implement the green and digital transformation Schemes. All of this allocated funding is designated as capital funding. The Table below details the estimated amount of funding that Enterprise Ireland expects to expend on the existing regional funding Schemes which are dedicated to regional development and which are currently extant.
It should be noted that the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme is no longer extant.
|
Regional Funding 2023 |
€’000 |
|
Regional technology cluster fund |
1,171 |
|
Regional Enterprise Development Fund |
17,898 |
|
Border Enterprise Development Fund |
2,426 |
|
Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme |
Funding completed. |
|
Regional Enterprise Innovation Scoping Scheme |
2,349 |
|
Subtotal |
23,844 |
Furthermore, the Department has secured up to €145 million under the new European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This fund will build on initiatives previously funded under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund and support new collaborative and innovative regional projects. This activity will align with the objectives of the nine Regional Enterprise Plans and Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy around digitalisation and green transformation goals for industry. The Department intends holding the first call under this fund in the coming months.
Work Permits
Questions (168)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15028/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that the General Employment Permit application submitted in respect of the person concerned (in the details supplied) was refused on 23rd November 2022, and on 1st March 2023 the refusal decision was upheld by the Reviewing Officer.
It was refused as the Labour Market Needs Test was not carried out correctly. The advertisement for the employment was not placed with the Department of Social Protection/EURES for 28 days during the 90 days preceding the application as is required. The advertisement submitted with the application was published outside the 90-day time limit.
The application and the review were further refused on the basis that a letter from the relevant Local Health Authority confirming that the Person who made the offer of employment had been granted permission to operate a restaurant or takeaway at the premises was not included with the application which is a requirement. The document submitted at appeal stage did not address this point.
The refusal to grant an employment permit does not preclude an applicant from submitting another application for an employment permit. Such an application should comply with all of the legislative requirements for the particular employment permit type.
To assist applicants when applying for a General Employment Permit a checklist document has been prepared and is available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link:- enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/General-Employment-Permits-Checklist.pdf.
Departmental Data
Questions (169)
James Lawless
Question:169. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15047/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is of the view that it would not be appropriate for the Irish Government to comment on the processes surrounding the UK Government's employment permit system.
The Department has no view as to whether Irish companies may or may not be registered for a licence to sponsor workers (in this case pilots) for a right to work in the UK. This would be a matter for the UK as to whether such a licence would be accepted – and so the question should be asked of the relevant UK authorities.
Labour Court
Questions (170)
Mark Ward
Question:170. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the new rate of pay of €12.90 per hour for security guards proposed by the Labour Court has taken effect; when this took effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15351/23]
View answerWritten answers
On 3 August 2022, the former Minister of State for Employment Affairs, Business and Retail announced an intention to issue an Employment Regulation Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector. The proposed Order was to apply from 29 August 2022 and would have increased the statutory hourly minimum rate of pay to €12.50 per hour, with a further increase to €12.90 per hour on 1 February 2023.
On 24 August 2022, my Department was informed that High Court had granted an injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry.
At this moment in time the Order cannot be proceeded with. The matter is before the courts.
Fishing Industry
Questions (171)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a bye law can be amended to ensure that all persons are treated the same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15013/23]
View answerWritten answers
Salmon fisheries In Ireland are managed on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon rivers has a genetically unique stock particular to that river.
In December last, I enacted the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations for 2023 which came into operation on 1 January and set out, inter alia, the status of each of Ireland‘s more than 140 salmon rivers as open, open to catch and release or closed to harvest.
These regulations are based on the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by independent annual scientific assessments by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) of each river stock.
I have also recently enacted the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order for 2023 which provides for general regulation of commercial fishing activity from the opening of the season in May 2023.
This Order is accompanied, every year, by the annual Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Draft Nets and Snap Nets) Bye-law which sets out the opening and closing dates and times for the individual fisheries.
To safeguard stocks, the Bye-law contains a general prohibition on the use of monofilament and multi-strand nets, in the context of conservation imperatives guided by management and scientific advice. This prohibition applies to all fisheries with two exceptions, in place for a number of years, and also based on the management advice and scientific assessments of rivers referred to above. Removing the prohibition on a wider scale would be detrimental to the relevant fish stocks and therefore irresponsible.